You are looking for home plans to build your family’s dream house, but you can’t seem to find the right ones. Modern plans are too sterile, and the myriad traditional styles are not cutting-edge enough for your taste. Take a look at Contemporary house plans. They may surprise you!

Once the rage in the United States, concrete block / ICF home plans are back in today’s architectural landscape. Along with being energy-efficient, durable, and storm-resistant, concrete block house plans are comfortable and quiet – and they come in classic styles that appeal to today’s home seekers’ aesthetic.

Just as trends in interior design change from year to year, so do trends in exterior design, as people building new homes choose house plans to fit their evolving lifestyles. Here are some of the do's and don'ts - and overall trends - we've identified in modern house plans for today.

All families need to have a place to call home but military families need a home away from home where they can stay while a loved one is receiving treatment. Fisher House Foundation makes sure these families have that place, with 64 comfortable residences across the country, five of which we spotlight for their reflection of local architectural style.

The arrival of Columbus Day inspired us to celebrate another famous Italian, architect Andrea Palladio. Discovered when he was 30 years old and brought to Rome from Vicenza, Palladio’s concepts of balance, harmony, and classic design had a powerful impact on American—and worldwide—architecture.

Influenced by the classic culture of Rome and fanciful Moorish structures, the Spanish-style home continues to attract people from all over the world—and coast to coast. With its arched windows and doorways, balconies, courtyards, and patios, the Spanish style captures the Mediterranean spirit and its expressive nature.

Whether inspired by the majestic columns of Mount Vernon’s mansion or the classic simplicity of Abraham Lincoln’s Greek Revival summer home, historic-style house plans have captivated and fascinated designers and builders with their enduring allure and unique architectural design.

From Cape Cod to Ranch—and a lot more in between—there are many design terms and styles that you need to wade through on your way to finding the house plan that’s right for you and your family. We examine seven of the most popular architectural styles in America.

Wide, covered porches, courtyards, windows and verandas that allow cooling breezes inside, low-pitch roofs with red clay tiles, and spacious floor plans that open to rear patios and screened-in swimming pools. The classic Florida style home blends Mediterranean, coastal and Spanish influences in its architectural design.

Artistic protest launched the Arts & Crafts Movement in the late 1800s. British artists like William Morris revived the use of handicrafts and natural materials in architecture. While the British spurned industrialization, American architects combined the artistic and modern in Arts and Crafts-style homes that were beautiful, decorative, and functional.